Steering-wheel.



A. S.' DYSART. STEERING WHEEL.

. APPLICATION FILED JUNE 5.1916- v 1 ,2]. 6,670. Patented Feb. 20, 1917 2 S HEE-TSSHEET I.

A. S. DYSART.

STEERING WHEEL. APPLICATION FILED JUNE 5. 1916. 1 216570. Patented. Feb. 20, 1917.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2. $65 9. :5

ARTHUR s. DYSART, or THE 11m sures NAVY.

STEERING-WHEEL. l

I Specification of Letters Patent.

' Patented Feb. 20, 1917;.

Application filed June 5, 1916. Serial No. 101,759.

I To all whom at may concern:

-Be it known that I, ARTHUR S. DYSART,

' lieutenant in the United States Navy, a citizen of the United States, have invented oer-- in corresponding sockets or joints 13 in center piece: 14' of the spider 3.

Depending from the rim 4 of the spider'- 3 are palrs of lugs or cars 15, the membersof tain new anduseful Improvements in Steerk which are spaced apart a distance just sufli-' ing-Wheels, of which the following is a specification; This invention relates to steering wheels.

My. object, is to provide 11 improved tilting steering, wheel for motdxghicles, motor. launches and the likewhich 'll be rigidly connected tothe steering stem olkshaft when in use and may be quickly tilte or folded forthe'purpose of lessening the horizontal space it occupies so as to permit easy access to, or passage from, the drivers seat.

Three or more spokes may be used\and modifications resorted to in carrying out he essential principles of the invention, those cient to permit the entry of the spokes therebetween to thus lock the spokes to the spider 3 as regards horizontal movement.-

To lock the spokes to the spider 3 so that vertical movement of the steering-wheel 5 is impossible, there are provided latches 16 having rounded upper faces and carriedby sleeves 17 which slide on the sections 9 and are pressed toward the rim 4 by coil springs 18 hearing against collars 19 on the said spoke sections 9.

As shown by full lines in Figs. 1 and 2, when the latches 16 overlie the rim 4 and the spokes 9 lie-between the pairs of lugs or forms which are set forth hereinafter and cars 15, the steering Wheel iS 10@ked t0 the disclosed in the accompanying drawings shaft 2 and cannot move independentl 'heing illustrative, and not restrictive, o i the scope of the invention.

In the accompanying drawings:

Figure 1 is aplan view, partly broken away and in section, showing the wheel in its locked position;

Fig. 2, a side elevation, partly in section, full linesreprcsenting the locked position of the wheel, and dotted lines its folded or tilted position;

Fig. 3, a plan View of a modification;

Fig. 4, a detail section through one of the spokes and its connections; and

Fig. 5. a detail of a portion of the metal base of the wheel.

- Referring first to Figs. 1 and 2, the hollow steering post is shown at 1 and the steer ing shaft at 2.

Secured to the steering shaft 2' in any suitable manner-is a spider 3. which has an inclined, annular-rim 4.

The steering wheel or hand-grip rim 5 may be of wood, as usual. To this rim there either horizontally or vertically.

\When it is desired to tilt the wheel, as shdwn by' dotted lines in Fig. 2, the latch 16 i earest the driver is released from the rim whereupon, turning on the axis A, B. (Fig. the steering wheel may be folded or tilted downwardly, the spring 10 of the -depressed\ spoke first being compressed by the contraction of that spoke, then extending the telescopic sections 8, 9, thereof.

On raising the depressed portion of the wheel, the spoke section 9 first passes in be,- tween the pai of ears 15 and then the rounded upperface of the catch 16 bears against the lower, inclined face of the rim 4 and is pressed back and finally snaps over the upper face of said rim, thus locking the steering wheel.

In this form of the invention, it is not essential that the springs 10 be employed in the telescopic spokes and I do not intend to limit myself thereto, but it is preferable to use these'springs.

is secured the metal socket pieces 6 which Referring to Figs.

desired separable, or other, construction vided with pairs of cars 20 which are spaced may be employed for the socket pieces 6 to apart a suflicient' distance to afford relaenable the ball ends of the spokes to be entively lon joints between the spokes and tered therein. the said hub to afford great rigidity against Thespokes are composed of telescopic lateral play. In this formofthe invention, sections 8 and 9. within which are stout exthe hub 14 serves the double-purpose of a pansion coil springs 10 tending to force the pivotal connection for the spokes and as a sections '8 and 9 outwardly in relation to substitute for the spider, inasmuch as the each other. The sections 8 have ball ends locking action is directly on top of the said 11 received in the ball sockets 7. The sechub 14. The long joints between the spokes tions 9 have ball or knuckle ends 12 received and the hub 1 4 0bviate the necessity of pro- 3, 4 and 5, the spider have ball concavities 7 Any preferred or 3, 4, is dispensed with and the hub 14 is proare connected to the inner spoke sections 8' by a concaved or socketed plug 25 screwed into the end of the section 8,. and a cap 26 screwed on to the plug The spoke sections 9 telescopically receive the sections 8,

as in Figs. 1 and 2, and a spring 10 contained within the spoke sections, is adapted to relatively expand them. The hinge member 27 which screws into the lower end of the spoke 9, is relatively long and-pivoted on a stout pin or bolt which is secured to the cars 29. A latch or finger 29, integral with the hinge member 27. is pressed down firmly on the upper face of the hub 1i by the expansion of the spring 10 when the wheel 'is in normal position. thus preventing any lost lnotion of said steering wheel in a vertical plane. The hinge joint composed of the parts 27, 28, is of such length that it will transmit a relatively great torque from the rim 21 to the hub 14 without perceptible wear or looseness. The expansion of the springs 10 in the respective spokes is sufficient to keep the steering wheel rigid, but if it is desired. additional means may be employed for that purpose, such means consisting of splitting the upper ends of the sections 9 and applying thereto a clamp 30 which may be screwed onto the spoke section 9 and also provided with a tension thumb-screw 31 by which the spoke 9 may be firmly clamped around the spoke section 8.

In the claims, when-referring to the center section of the steering wheel, I intend to cover the locking of the spokes by either the latch 16'oi Figs. 1 and 2, or the mem bers 29 of the remaiuinT r figures, such expression being intended to cover the hub 14 alone or the hub 14 and the spider 3, 4-, as in both forms of the invention, the spokes are held rigid with the center section or hub 14, that is, the part which connects the wheel to the steering shaft 2.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is:

7.. A foldable steering wheel adapted to be tilted from normal to folded position, and vice versa, having a center section, av rim or hand-wheel portion, and a plurality of spokes comprising telescopic sections whose ends are jointed to the center section and to the rim which permit tilting of the wheel.

2. A foldable steering wheel adapted to be tilted from normal to folded position, and

vice versa, having a center section, a rim or hand-Wheel portion, and a plurality of spokes comprising telescopic sections whose ends are jointed to the center section and to the rim which permit tilting of the wheel, and spring means for relatively extending or expanding the telescopic sections of the respective spokes.

3. A foldablesteering wheel adapted to be tilted from normal to folded position, and

vice versa, having a center section, a rim or hand-wheel portion. and a plurality of spokes comprising telescopic sections whose ends are jointed to the center section and to the rim which permit tilting of the wheel. and means for holding the steering. wheel rigid when in normal position.

-l. A foldable steering wheel adapted to be tilted from normal to folded position, and vice versa, having a center section, a rim-or hand-wheel portion, and a plurality of spokes comprising telescopic sections whose ends :ire jointed to the center section and to the rim which permit tilting of the wheel, spring means for relatively extending or expandingthe telescopic sections of the respective spokes, and means for holding the steering wheel rigid when in normal position.

5. The combinatlon with a center or steering-shaft-attaching section of a steering wheel, of a steering rim or hand-wheel portion thereof, spokes comprising tclescopic sections which are respectively jointed to the center section and the steering rim section, and means for engaging the spokes with the center section.

(3. The combination with accnter or steering-shaftarttaehing section of ,a steering wheel, of a steering rim or hand-wheel portion thereof, spokes comprisingtelescopic sections which are respectively jointed to the center section and the stcering'rim section, springs for expanding the sections of the telescopic spokes, and means carried by the spokes for engaging the center section.

7 A foldable steering wheel adapted to be tilted from normal. to tilted position and vice versa, having a center section, a rim or hand-wheel portion, and a plurality of spokes jointed to the center section and having universal joints connecting them to the rim.

8. A fold'able steering wheel adapted to be tilted from normal to tiltedposition and vice versa, having a center section, a rim or handwheel portion, and a plurality of spokes comprising relatively movable. sections respectively jointed to the center scction and to the rim which permit tiltingof the wheel.

In testimony whereof, I hereunto aflix my signature.

ARTHUR S. DYSART. 

